Well, it seems that the old saying is true.
Vampires are addictive.
Or - wait.
Is it humans that are addictive?
I forget.
But either way - the truth remains that the legendary blood-sucking enigmas of mythology
and folklore have well and truly found a fondness in our cultural hearts - much like their fear
of stakes, of the wooden variety.
In part one of this particular cinematic list, we managed to delve through some of the most
beautifully shot horror movies of recent times - as it seems that a thirst for drinking blood
and looking good whilst doing so often goes hand in hand.
But - as we all know, there’s many more where that came from.
So.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Hello horror fans - what’s going on, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube - Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Vampire Movies Of All Time - Part 2.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was, of course - from 2008’s Let The Right One
In - which took the number one spot on our part one of this list - and rightfully so,
because it’s a fantastic horror movie - nevermind a vampire movie - and I’ll use any excuse
I can to get some footage in for this list.
And it leads us to an interesting point - because many of the comments on our previous video
pointed out how - fervent - the fandom of Vampirism is amongst you horror fans.
And you weren’t exactly overjoyed that we’d missed a few entries out, to say the least.
But hey - you know what they say about vampires, right?
It’s all about taste.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Afflicted, 2013
And you know what?
This film is actually awesome - and you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it’s perhaps
the best found footage vampire horror movie ever made - I mean, not like there are a lot
of them anyway, maybe like - 3?
But - nevertheless, Afflicted manages to take the otherwise worn-out found footage genre,
as well as the long-standing, done to death Vampire genre - and somehow still manages
to create a wholeheartedly original and exhilarating horror experience.
And, on top of all that - it’s Canadian!
Written and directed by Derek Lee and Clif Prowse in their directorial feature film debut
- Afflicted also stars the two filmmakers in their respective namesakes, as two best
friends travelling the world, filming a web series of their travels.
It’s quickly revealed that the trip is actually a bucket list, as Derek has a tragic genetic
brain condition that could cause his death at any moment - and the trip is his last wish,
to spend time exploring the planet with his best friend.
Of course though, as is the best laid plans of vampires and men - things often go awry
- and Derek contracts a mysterious disease, which of course - turns out to be vampirism.
Afflicted doesn’t exactly take any precautions going into this horror onslaught - and although
oftentimes the *action* can water down the genuinely fear-inducing moments - the one
thing that carries through in this movie is its unstoppable energy.
Start to finish, it’s literally as if the life-and-undeath of vampirism is the very
lifeblood on this film - coursing through its veins - seeking the next helpless horror
fan to feast on.
It’s a strange mix of both new and old - but even stranger still, it actually works incredibly
well.
Next up at Number 4 - Only Lovers Left Alive, 2013
Now - many of you called for this film to appear on our next list, and rightfully so
- because just like with Afflicted - it seems that 2013 was the year for surprisingly creative
vampire horror that seemingly reignited the genre in a strange new way.
It’s important to note that Only Lovers Left Alive isn’t a horror film in the conventional
sense, or even in the traditional sense - because it relies on an entirely new perspective to
fill the spaces of its horror - and yeah, who would have thought it, vampire nihilism.
Vampirlism?
Maybe it’ll catch on.
Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch - the film stars Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton
as Adam and Eve - two immortal vampires that have lived countless lives across the ages,
as musicians, poets, scientists - and purveyors of all the mysteries of existence.
In the 21st century, though - things are a little different, and Adam and Eve both live
in an overwhelmingly different age - where the blood of the human population has been
grossly contaminated by the modern environment.
This film covers many, many themes - and it effortlessly says a lot about the human condition
without saying much at all - whilst also capturing that ageless enigma of blood-thirsty vampires
and the strange, alluring beauty that they permeate.
Again, at first glance, the traditional horror of this film isn’t easy to pick out - but
instead, it manages to give a much needed breath of life into the genre - while offering
insight into the terrifying existential implications of living forever, and the price that comes
with it.
Also, it’s reminiscent of 1983’s The Hunger starring David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve and
Susan Sarandon - which would’ve made this list, but yeah - I don’t think YouTube would
like it.
Coming in at Number 3 - Thirst, 2009
And again - you may be sensing a bit of a pattern here, because much like with our previous
two entries - 2009’s Korean horror flick, Thirst - isn’t at all a conventional vampire
horror - but instead a frightfully original portrayal of vampirism, that uses the immortal
affliction to allude to a much more human addiction.
Saying that though - that’s not to say that this film doesn’t have it’s fair share
of gut-wrenching gore and all the bright bursts of blood that you’d expect a vampire horror
to carry - because it does, and it delivers it in spades in the typical Korean horror
cinema fashion.
Written and directed by Park Chan-wook, the man responsible for the incredible 2003 thriller,
Oldboy - Thirst has all the trials and trappings that we’ve come to expect with modern vampire
cinema - and yet still manages to execute them in a frightfully original manner.
It tells the tale of Sang-hyun - a Catholic priest, renowned as a good, noble man in his
small-town parish.
Despite his unwavering faith though, he is afflicted by a deep, insatiable sadness and
a loneliness that he cannot fill - and so volunteers to participate in a medical experiment
to find a vaccine for the deadly Emmanuel Virus.
Of course - we know how that usually goes, and Sang-hyun quickly morphs into a virulent,
vigorous viral vampire - but, the thirst doesn’t end there - and for those of you going into
this movie with zero expectations, you’ll discover more charm than expected, as well
as genuine, fear inducing moments of complete and utter shock and awe.
It’s strange, because in places, this film is endearing - and warm and fuzzy - and in
others, it’s bat-shit crazy and full of gut-wrenching horror.
It walks a fine line, strikes a fine balance - and still manages to be an incredibly original
depiction of vampires.
Great movie.
Swinging in at Number 2 - Near Dark, 1987
And
now - listen.
Guys.
I get it.
The vast majority of you absolutely love 1987’s Near Dark - and often ranked it as number
one on your list of Scariest Vampire Movies Of All Time.
And yeah, I agree with you - because Near Dark is an incredibly entertaining horror
experience, and in my eyes - it’s a more horror palatable version of The Lost Boys
- although Near Dark is often forgotten in the shadow of The Lost Boys success.
Not to take anything away from The Lost Boys - because it is awesome.
The thing is though - both of these films are very much a product of their time - and
when it comes to late-eighties nostalgia, the horror experience was often mired in fragments
of genre.
A little action thriller here - a little dark-comedy there - and as is the case of Near Dark, a
little bit of neo-western horror gore.
Which sounds strange - but hey, it works.
Nevertheless, I hear you - and consider this Number 2 spot a worthy fan placement that
all you horror fanatics have made happen.
Good job guys.
Near Dark, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and also written by herself and Eric Red, tells
the tale of a group of Nomadic American vampires - roaming the small, rural towns of Midwestern
America.
Despite having a relatively unknown cast at the time, more importantly - Near Dark has
Bill Paxton in one of his most well delivered roles in horror history, as he plays Severen
- an immortal vampire with a gutter mouth and a thirst for bar-brawling.
It also stars Lance Henriksen, as the wisened, grizzled leader of their merry band of vampires
- and shows the lengths that immortal, bloodthirsty murderers will go to - to stay alive on the
open road.
It’s Road House meets The Lost Boys - and because of that, it’s awesome.
And finally - coming in at our Number 1 spot - ‘Salem’s Lot, 1979
Okay guys - I’m gonna level with you.
The only reason that this entry didn’t make Part One of this list, is because - as I explained,
it’s technically a TV mini series - and much like 1990’s IT - it doesn’t hit the
parameters of the term *movie*.
But you know what?
What the hell - throw me out the window like little Ralphie Glick - forget I ever said
anything, and give Tobe Hooper’s legendary 1979 mini-series the credit it deserves, and
stick it at our Number 1 spot for the Scariest Vampire Movies Ever Made.
Because it is exactly that - we’ll just forget the fact that it was released in two
parts.
Hey, whatever - that’s fine by me.
I remember the first time I accidently caught a glimpse of that bedroom window scene as
a kid - and I was so incredibly terrified that it took me many years after that to even
realise it was a story about vampires.
I just thought it was about horrifying children in pyjamas floating through the air - and
I wasn’t about to watch a feature length re-run of that.
But obviously, as I got older - and finally had the courage to read the original Stephen
King novel of the same name - it was evident that ‘Salem’s Lot was perhaps the greatest
fictional depiction of vampires in anything, really.
Because - here’s the thing.
It manages to strike an incredibly delicate balance - and it’s a balance Stephen King
intended, that Tobe Hooper also managed to capture in the T.V miniseries.
It gives all the credit to the horror forefathers that predate it - the classic image of Barlow
being shipped in a sealed crate by his familiar, Straker - teeth, pale skin - blood sucking
- Dracula, the whole nine yards.
But somehow, it manages to maintain itself as an entirely original creation of horror.
There’s nothing quite like the vampires of Salem’s Lot.
They’re familiar, but they’re also strange and remote - an entirely different creation.
We don’t need to talk about how good Tobe Hooper’s 1979 version of ‘Salem’s Lot
is - just watch it, it’s horror mastery, and I hate to sound like a blaggard - but
they don’t make them like that anymore.
Well - there we have it horror fans - our Part 2 for the Top 5 Scariest Vampire Movies
Of All Time.
Phew.
That was a tough list - and I hope I’ve managed to sate your vampire thirst for quite
some time.
We’ll see how it goes, I’m sure.
But on that note - why don’t you let us know your thoughts - as well as any choice,
remaining picks, down in the comment section below.
Before we depart from today’s video though - let’s take a quick look at some of your
more entertaining edifications from Part One of this particular list.
First up - Koltira Memeweaver says --
I love vampires!
I also love garlic tho
--- Ehh.
Well, that’s a risky game your playing.
That’s also a pretty tough choice.
Immortality, or garlic.
Eh, I think I’d stick with garlic.
Anyway - on that note, cheers for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5
Scary Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.